Who qualifies for the Federal Skilled Worker Program under Express Entry?
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is a federal Express Entry stream targeting candidates with skilled foreign work experience. To be eligible, you generally need at least one year of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience in a job classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 within the past ten years.
You also need to meet minimum language requirements — a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 in all four abilities (reading, writing, listening, speaking) based on an approved test such as IELTS or CELPIP for English, or TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French. Additionally, you must have the equivalent of a Canadian secondary-school education, and you must show that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependants (unless you have a valid job offer or are already working in Canada legally).
A selection grid awards points across six factors; you must score at least 67 out of 100 to be eligible to enter the pool. Speak with an immigration lawyer or regulated consultant to assess your score before investing in testing.
Key takeaways
- Minimum one year of skilled NOC TEER 0–3 work experience is required.
- Language scores of at least CLB 7 in all abilities are needed.
- A passing selection-grid score of 67/100 is required to enter the pool.
- Proof of settlement funds is required unless a qualifying job offer exists.